The Mitzvah to Hear the Shofar Blowing

The Clarion Call of the Shofar at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Sep 21, 2009

It is considered a mitzvah - a commandment - for every Jew to hear the shofar blowing at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as they prepare for and welcome the Jewish New Year.

Every year, Jews must hear the shofar blowing at Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah as the new year arrives.

Few who have heard someone blowing the shofar can forget its sound. Its dramatic, stirring resonance is more than a blast of a horn, it is a call to action, a call to respond. It reminds Jews that it is the New Year, but even more so, that it is a time to take stock of life, what the individual has done during the past year, and what actions must be amended for the future.

For the religiously observant, the shofar reminds them of their connection with God and it acknowledges His dominion over Man and life in general. It signifies the beginning — and the end — of the 10-day period known as the Days of Repentance, or the Days of Awe.

The Shofar at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

The shofar is one of the oldest wind instruments in existence and has been a part of Jewish traditions for thousands of years. During the time of the first and second temples, the shofar was used not only to herald in the new year, but to announce momentous occasions, such as the start of a new moon (on which the Jewish calendar is partially based) and major holidays. During Jubilee years the shofar was blown to signify the designated release of slaves. The shofar had an integral part of Jewish community life, much more than it has today.

These days most Jews expect to hear the shofar at Rosh Hashanah and at the close of the prayers and fasting that marks the 25 hours of Yom Kippur (although it is blown throughout the Days of Awe). Its significance in Jewish religious observance is, if anything, intensified by its special use.

During each of the two Rosh Hashanah mornings, the shofar is blown 100 times (101 by Sephardi custom) to signify the weighty responsibilities of its listeners. At the close of Yom Kippur it is blown one last series of notes, signifying that the Gates of Repentance are closing. Its notes mark a time for solemn reflection as well as joyous acknowledgement of the New Year.

The Mitzvah to Hear the Shofar Blowing

The actual mitzvah, according to the Torah and the Talmud, is not to sound the shofar, but to hear the shofar blowing. According to ancient law, one must be physically present where the shofar is being blown in order to fulfill the mitzvah. There has been much debate with the advent of the Internet, as to whether hearing a recording of the blowing of the shofar over the Web fulfills the annual commandment to hear it blown. Can a person who is 100 miles away from the nearest synagogue fulfill the mitzvah by listening to its replay? Can someone listen to its sound over the telephone?

Orthodox rabbis say "No," arguing that one must make the effort to be present when the shofar is blown. People who are sick are exempt from this time-bound commandment. Also, they note, women are not commanded to hear the shofar, but are encouraged to be present.

Liberal Jews argue that making the process available over the Internet does not discourage attendance, it facilitates observance of the mitzvah. Liberal Jews also do not draw any distinction between men and women in their responsibility to hear the shofar. And so the debate on the topic continues.

What is a Shofar Made From?

A shofar is a naturally made “horn.” According to halacha (Jewish law), it can be made from the horn of any member of the Bovidae family except cattle. It cannot be made from an antler as it must be hollow. Ashkinazi (Eastern European) Jewish communities traditionally use a ram’s horn; Sephardic (Iberian and North African) communities often use the horn of the African kuzu.

There are other specifications for the creation of a shofar, like the fact that the shofar must not have a fracture in it, as this might affect its use.

How to Hear the Shofar

There are four sounds heard when the shofar is blown, and each has a name: Tekiah (te-kee-ah), a long, single note; teruah (tehr-oo-ah) nine quick staccato notes; shevarim (she-vahr-eem), a series of three one-second tekiahs; and tekiah gadolah (te-kee-ah gah-do-lah) a long tekia held for at least nine seconds (or longer). Sephardic communities replace the tekiah gadolah with a long teruah gadolah.

The first blowing occurs immediately after the reading of the Torah from the bima (pulpit); the second thirty notes are blown at the end of the Amidah prayer, one of the cornerstones of the service; and the last 40 notes occur at the end of the service.

There is always a great deal of anticipation to see how long the shofar blower will be able to blow the last long notes without taking an extra breath.

The copyright of the article The Mitzvah to Hear the Shofar Blowing in Jewish Practices is owned by Jan Lee. Permission to republish The Mitzvah to Hear the Shofar Blowing in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.